The Football Association (FA) has appointed former England rugby captain Sue Day as its new director of women’s football.
The 51-year-old will replace the outgoing Baroness Sue Campbell — who has held the position for the past eight years — in December.
Day will join from the Rugby Football Union (RFU) where she is a board member, chief operations officer and chief financial officer.
She will be responsible for the next phase of development for the women’s and girls’ game and disability football in England.
“It is an honour to be able to join The FA in this incredibly exciting role, at a pivotal moment in the history of the sport,” Day said in a statement. “Women’s football has the opportunity to change the sporting and societal landscape forever, and I am very excited to be part of that.
GO DEEPER
Special report: This is what women’s football really looks like in England in 2023
“I grew up playing football every day in the school playground, then one day I was told I wasn’t allowed to play with boys on the school team. I am passionate about making sure that future generations have the equal opportunities that weren’t afforded to so many girls like me.”
Having won 59 caps for the Red Roses since her debut in 1997, Day went on to become a founding trustee of the Women’s Sport Trust and was awarded a MBE in 2020 for her work on gender equality in sport.
In 2013, she was named club president of Wasps RFC, becoming the first woman to hold the position in its 146-year history.
FA CEO Mark Bullingham said: “We’re delighted to welcome Sue Day into the FA at the end of this year. Sue’s professional expertise and passion for women’s sport, combined with her business acumen made her the standout candidate for this role. Her credentials show she has the vision and leadership to make the most of this moment in time to take the women’s game and para football to new heights.
“I would also like to again reiterate my thanks to Baroness Sue Campbell, these exciting times for the women’s game are testament to Sue’s brilliant leadership, total commitment and deep passion for the sport. She has inspired us all and we are grateful for her continued contribution across the women’s game and para football.”
England women’s senior and development teams will remain under the leadership of technical director Kay Cossington.
(Photo by Oisin Keniry – World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images)
